In the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention’s 2017 clinical survey, 56% of dogs and 60% of cats were classified as clinically overweight (body condition score (BCS) 6-7) or obese (BCS 8-9) by their veterinary healthcare professional. That equals an estimated 50.2 million dogs and 56.5 million cats are too heavy, based on 2017 pet population projections provided by the American Pet Products Association (APPA).
Good nutrition and a healthy weight can provide the foundation for a lifetime of wellness for your pet. What you feed your companion, how much and how often, can have a major impact on his or her overall health and wellbeing. The right nutrition can improve performance, promote ongoing good health and even help manage existing medical conditions to minimize symptoms and improve quality of life. Weight is also an important factor. Animals that are just a few pounds overweight are at a greater risk of developing serious, sometimes life-threatening diseases. So, what can you do to help? Seek the advice of an expert. Our professional nutrition and weight management services can get your pet on the right path toward a healthy lifestyle.
It doesn’t end there. We have some tips for getting additional exercise with your pet and helping them lose weight. use this time to strengthen the bond between you and your pets!
Take a new path
Ever tire of your dog walking routine? Same time, same route, day in, day out… Change up that routine in an interesting way: Instead of walking your dog, let your dog walk you. You might enjoy letting your pup lead the way through uncharted territory.
Add intervals
The experts say that interval training is great for the heart, and the same is true for pets. Head out for a walk with your dog, but instead of just walking, increase both of your heartrates by mixing in some different, more intense movements, like jogging, shuffling sideways, and running backward.
Work your muscles
Pump some iron without the iron by using your own body weight as resistance, and get your dog involved. If your dog loves to play fetch and your abs could use a bit of toning, grab your dog’s toy of choice and lay flat on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the ground. As you sit up, throw the toy. Your dog will run after it as you slowly lower your back onto the floor, and he’ll bring it back (hopefully) just in time for you to sit up again and throw it. You can do the same with squats: As you lower into a squatting position, you can raise the toy over your head, prompting your dog to jump for it.
Involve the kitty
Use tools like flashlights and lasers to entice your feline friend to move while you move, too. You can do sit-ups while you waive small flashlights or laser pointers at the wall, jump rope without the rope and put flashlights in your hands, or tie a catnip toy to your dumbbells while you do bicep curls or tricep extensions.
Please be sure to let us know how this goes for you. If you’d like to discuss your pet’s weight, please give us a call at 614-545-4260.